“Where is the Internet”: 10 Super-Datacenters

We’ve learned that the data is stored in the “cloud” – a metaphor for the collective technology underlying the thousands of services. However, data centers, through which we are able to not take up space on your hard disk, you can name the most fortified buildings and demanding of our time. Each of them – is a fortress with servers consume as much energy as a small town. We chose the 10 greatest, beautiful and “clean” data centers, each of which is a real work of art engineers.

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“Where is the Internet”: 10 Super-Datacenters:

Digital Beiijing, Beijing, China

The 11-storey building of the data center in Beijing was built for the 2008 Olympics by the architectural firm Studio Pei-Zhu. It combines the functions of the Information Centre and the technical management of the Games. Apart from the impressive processing power, interesting architectural design of buildings. Concrete cube as if floating on the smooth water surface, and its walls are cut channels of light resembling a barcode. In addition, the architects had to make the center of the embodiment of the concept of “Green Olympics”. Internal and external lighting used exclusively LED bulbs use 60% less electricity than conventional and special glass wall prevents the penetration of heat, reducing cooling costs. After closing of the sports in the Digital Beijing opened an interactive museum of modern technology.

Data Center Apple, Maiden, North Carolina, United States

Apple permanently reduces energy costs and reduce the harm that data centers are causing the environment. According to reports, Apple, 2013 100% of their data centers and 94% of the offices working on renewable energy sources. The company continues to move toward greater independence from electricity providers. Data center in Meydene surround 400,000 square meters of solar panels, which generate 42 million kilowatt-hours per year. This enough for it to provide electricity for 60% of servers and cooling systems, and the rest of the energy produces a nearby station operating on biofuel.

Data center Citigroup, Frankfurt, Germany

In 2008, when it was built a data center in Frankfurt of Citigroup, he was considered the most “green” in the world. Citi Data Center was the first building in Germany, which received platinum certification LEED . This means that the building combines the efficient use of energy, water, light and air, it is safe for employees, well integrated into transport infrastructure, and has minimal impact on the surrounding area.

Besides all this, the data center, designed by Arup Associates, and more beautiful: one facade is covered with real grass (he collects rainwater), the complex has a lot of greenery and even internal parks for employees.

Data center Telehouse West, London, United Kingdom

Telehouse British company rents server capacity to companies who do not need their own data centers. Telehouse is important for data security and reliability wholly, but for the environment and the company’s representatives are also thinking. Next to the data center, located in London’s Docklands, there is no place for solar panels or wind turbines for so Telehouse buy electricity. Since 2011, 100% of this energy supplies SmartestEnergy – a company engaged in repurchase and supply of renewable energy, so that all equipment Telehouse West runs on the energy of the British sun, wind and waves.

Data center Telefonica, Alcala de Henares, Spain

In Alcala de Henares on a plot size of eight football fields of Spain’s largest telecommunications company, Telefonica, has built a data center that provides work its cloud services in Spain, England and Germany. There are also servers that are rented – they take tens of thousands of square meters. It is the largest in Europe and the third largest in the world data center. The building has already received a gold certificate LEED, confirming the high quality and reliability of data center services. Structurally, the building consists of several modules, each of which is-volatile.

Data center eBay, Phoenix, United States

“If we could here – says Dean Nelson, senior manager of eBay, responsible for the construction of the data center in the Arizona desert – we can anywhere.” Indeed, to build a data center to be cooled well, in one of the hottest places in the country was a risky idea. Typically, servers are functioning normally at temperatures from 18 to 26 degrees above zero Celsius, but eBay engineers managed to make so that the data center can operate even at 46. Within the data center is so hot that you can use for cooling water at a temperature up to 28 degrees, and still it will cool the equipment. But the most innovative design applied to this object – containers resembling trucks, which are placed in the equipment. Energy efficiency of such a container is 95%, which means that almost all the energy directed at him from the power spent on the maintenance of the servers rather than on cooling.

Data Center Google, Hamina, Finland

In processing and storage of data Google has no equal: data centers of this giant Internet industry scattered throughout the world, and almost all of them correspond to the “green” standards. However, data center, located in the Finnish town of Hamina on the Baltic Sea, deserves special attention. Part servers located in a former paper mill, and the second – in a renovated computer room once designed by the great Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. Google spent $ 350 million for the purchase and renovation of these buildings – it’s a record amount, because the construction of, for example, the aforementioned data center in Alcala Telefonica cost 200 million. Here used for cooling the icy waters of the Gulf of Finland – for this purpose took the building of a paper mill, as in the production of paper also uses huge amounts of water.

Data center Verne Global, Reykjavik, Iceland

Data center Verne Global in Reykjavik carmaker BMW uses for theoretical and empirical research. It was here, on a supercomputer, calculated aerodynamics of new cars and analyze the results of crash tests. Transferring supercomputer from Germany to Iceland, the company has reduced carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere from 3570 tons per year to zero. Succeeded thanks to geothermal and hydroelectric plants, feed the new center, one geyser produces 10 megawatts of clean energy, and in the vicinity of Reykjavik are many geysers. This production at the company’s confidence, does not harm the environment. Power of the data center is also available for rent any company wishing to reduce their carbon footprint and save money.

Data Center Hewlett-Packard, Billingham, United Kingdom

The harsh climate of northern England and the North Sea wind data center allow Hewlett-Packard to work without air conditioning most of the year, reducing costs by 40%. The air passes through the fan two giant then filtered and chased for floors, maintaining a constant temperature of +24 ° C. This system was first used here, and although it has increased the cost of construction by 6% over four years of operation, these costs have paid off. The same company provides offshore wind power: wind turbines close to work all year round, reducing carbon emissions by more than half. In addition, rainwater from the roof is collected and used in humidifiers, and all the walls inside the data center are painted in white, to reduce the need for artificial lighting.

Data center IBM, Syracuse, United States

Data Center IBM on campus at Syracuse University in New York State – is the result of the experiment famous technology company. IBM executives agreed to provide funds to build and provide equipment if designers can reduce power consumption by half compared with the conventional center of the same capacity. In 2009, construction was completed, which gave the university an opportunity to close the old IT-center, located in a 100 year old body. Feeds data center its own power, working on gas and generates electricity by 12 microturbines. This design was developed specifically for this project, and its efficiency is 60% higher than conventional gas-fired plants.